Celebration of Life!

This past Saturday I attended a Celebration of Life service for a special lady. She was one of the amazing staff at Teen Challenge in Lincoln Ca. on Saturday evenings when I visited the center. I met her last summer when I was spending time getting to know the girls and where I became a mentor to a couple of these precious women. She had entered the program as a student 8 years ago. After graduating she became staff…giving back and helping others find hope and healing from their addictions.

A couple of things that really hit me from our time Saturday was how very loved she was and how much beautiful grace she gave and was given. The song that we sung together was “Something Beautiful”. The song goes…”Something beautiful, something good. All my confusion He understood. All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife, but He made something beautiful of my life”. If she were with us she would have reminded us…”Don’t sweat the small stuff” and to remember Matthew 6 “Jesus takes care of the birds of the air”. I was blessed to be there with those who also had been touched by her life.

Teen Challenge is holistic – meaning that we are concerned with the body, mind, and spirit of those who come to us for help. We endeavor to help people become mentally sound, emotionally balanced, socially adjusted, physically well, and spiritually alive.

We are confident that a restored relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, can transform those who are broken into vibrant, free, and sober people.

The life training we offer is based on God’s Word – the Bible. Practical, appropriate, and accessible Bible-based courses facilitate the transition that can conquer life-controlling problems. At Teen Challenge, we offer a chance to start over, become a new person, live a godly life, and find freedom through a restored purpose and an eternal hope. We do this through classes, individual study, personal mentoring, work ethics training, and involvement in the Christian community.

There are over 200 Teen Challenge programs throughout the United States offering a variety of programs and services for youth, adults, and families. Admission requirements, fees, and tuition costs vary from program to program. While Teen Challenge (a 501(3)(c) non-profit organization) is diligent to provide cost-effective programs, the significant resources required to provide training, lodging, meals, supervision, and other expenses necessitate the generous support of our friends, faith communities, and a concerned society.

Each local Teen Challenge program has its own procedures and entry requirements. They also fund their programs in unique ways that work for their communities and those they serve.